Whilst Chile has built a fine wine reputation centred around Cabernet Sauvignon, with new approaches, it is the country's exceptional Chardonnays that have started catching the fine wine world's attention in recent years.

The apex of Chilean winemaking, Concha Y Toro, have crafted a premium Chardonnay with their Amelia 2018 that 'could embarrass a range of Puligny-Montrachet Premiers Crus in a blind tasting' in the eyes of Tim Atkin MW at under £30 per bottle IB.

Scoring 97 points from Aktin and 95 points from the Wine Advocate's Luis Gutiérrez, this is 'right up there with the best Chardonnays Chile, and South America, has ever produced' (TA).

The rise in quality of this 'stunning wine' (TA) can be linked to Concha Y Toro switching to use vineyards in the Limarí Valley in the north of Chile. It is a region fast becoming renowned as the best place in the country to grow Chardonnay with its mix of cool-climate and limestone soil producing wines of excellent structure, rich minerality and precise tension.

'Simply stunnning' in the words of Atkin, this 2018 is 'tangy, chiselled and refined, with very stylish oak'. 'Serious and restrained', there is definitely a 'different grip on the palate' (WA) in comparison to past vintages. With the sharpness from the limestone cutting through, this is 'very complete, harmonious, long and wide, with a tasty, salty finish and great persistence' (WA). Drinking wonderfully now, it will cellar up to 2026.

Released at just £175 per case IB, the Concha Y Toro Amelia Chardonnay 2018 offers exceptional value for money not just in comparison to its Puligny-Montrachet rivals but as one of the best Chardonnays in South America.